Post by Bonobo on Jul 25, 2011 19:06:08 GMT 1

The Krakow Foundation Czarna Owca Pana Kota (Mr Cat’s Black Sheep) has made a documentary about the tremendous help spontaneously given to homeless dogs and cats during last year’s floods.

A queue of people formed in front of Krakow’s animal rescue centre last May as Cracovians answered the call to provide temporary homes for several hundred dogs and cats threatened by the rising waters. According to Czarna Owca Pana Kota, these events were so unusual in a society that is usually reluctant to re-home abandoned animals that it deserves to be recorded in the form of a documentary.

“We want to recreate the amazing atmosphere of social mobilization among Krakow’s citizens, thanks to which hundreds of cats and dogs were adopted in just one day,” said Joanna Wydrych, a spokesperson for the Foundation. “In contrast to numerous media reports about animal mistreatment, this behavior was completely opposite and positive news, and we want to encourage this sort of attitude in people.”

The idea of commemorating the Krakow flood rescue originated during the making of another documentary, Stan Zakocenia, about the problem of stray animals in the city. Animal welfare activists working on the film met many people who had helped during the flood evacuation. They decided to interview as many of these people as they could find, as well as regular and volunteer workers who were at the animal rescue centre at time and even a journalist who reported on the evacuation.

“It is our belief that the film may have a great impact not only on encouraging help for stray animals and animal adoption, but also on educating the next generation and creating animal and people friendly space as well,” stresses Wydrych.

The public will have a chance to see the finished documentary, titled Powodziêta, at 6pm on Wednesday July 27, at Kino Agrafka (ul. Krowoderska 8).

Post by jeanne on Oct 18, 2015 23:57:02 GMT 1

The pictures of the wolf in the trap break my heart...I hate to see animals suffer from such cruelty. Seeing how she ripped and chewed the branches around her indicate how frantic she was. I hope she was able to survive after that ordeal!

I like the photos of the boy and the stork. That bird was fortunate to find a friend like him to help it through the winter. By the way, is that legal? I was under the impression that only trained personnel are allowed to handle storks in Poland. In the US we call such trained personnel "wildlife rehabilitators." I think the people/persons who have the webcam at Tomaszow Boleslawiecki are this sort of trained personnel. Of course, I'd know for sure if I could read Polish...if one clicks on "English" for that webpage, the translation makes no sense...so it's the same as trying to read Polish!

Post by Bonobo on Oct 19, 2015 21:48:42 GMT 1

I like the photos of the boy and the stork. That bird was fortunate to find a friend like him to help it through the winter. By the way, is that legal? I was under the impression that only trained personnel are allowed to handle storks in Poland. In the US we call such trained personnel "wildlife rehabilitators." I think the people/persons who have the webcam at Tomaszow Boleslawiecki are this sort of trained personnel. Of course, I'd know for sure if I could read Polish...if one clicks on "English" for that webpage, the translation makes no sense...so it's the same as trying to read Polish!

I checked the matter. One should have an official agreement from the local Nature Conservationist. Without it, keeping protected species at home is illegal, except for temporary help until specialists take the animal.

Post by jeanne on Oct 19, 2015 21:52:13 GMT 1

I checked the matter. One should have an official agreement from the local Nature Consrvationist. Without it, keeping protected species at home is illegal, except for temporary help until specialists take the animal.

I suspected that might be the case. Thanks for checking that out...I always have animals' (especially storks!) best interests at heart!

Post by jeanne on Dec 22, 2015 2:00:38 GMT 1

Where is that quicksand? Is it in Poland somewhere?

Those photos remind me of something a little more light-hearted. My brother was a cranberry grower until he recently retired. Part of the harvesting process for cranberries is flooding the bogs, and then beating the plants until the berries come loose and float to the surface of the water, making a dark red covering over the bog. It actually looks like it is a solid substance. Every year my brother and his partner would invite their friends and relatives to the bogs to observe the harvest and have a party. People would inevitably bring their dogs because the bogs are located in rural areas where the dogs can run and have a good time. Every year, one or more dogs would see the bog covered with the floating cranberries and try to walk on it! They would be SO surprised to end up in the water!! It was pretty funny to watch!

Post by jeanne on Dec 22, 2015 22:03:32 GMT 1

Beating berries underwater so that they float up. I would never come up with such an amazing idea.

I think that if you had been a cranberry grower and knew how hard it was to harvest by hand, and if you knew that the berries float, I have every confidence that you, Bonobo, would have been the inventor of those beaters!

Post by Bonobo on Dec 23, 2015 14:29:33 GMT 1

Beating berries underwater so that they float up. I would never come up with such an amazing idea.

I think that if you had been a cranberry grower and knew how hard it was to harvest by hand, and if you knew that the berries float, I have every confidence that you, Bonobo, would have been the inventor of those beaters!

If I lived in US, who knows?? After all, my father was an engineer in communist chemical industry, till today some of his patents are available for reading on the Net....

Post by Bonobo on Oct 8, 2016 20:17:41 GMT 1

Owls haven`t been rescued in this forum yet. High time.A cute birdling fell out of the nest.

As you know, I enjoy learning about and observing birds...it's one of my favorite pastimes, so please forgive me if I can't resist mentioning that the proper term for a young owl is "owlet."

Plus, "sowa" happens to be one of the few Polish words I have assimilated into my brain. Aren't you proud of me?

PS. I have always loved all animals and I am always incessantly happy when each animal in need is rescued.

Me, too! Especially when it involves birds!!

1 But I didn`t say owling, I wrote birdling, it is acceptable in Western Canada and Eastern Alaska, Innuit people say so.

2 Sowa, the word creates bad associations to me, as a kid I saw a cover of the book which read: Sowa, baker`s daughter. I thought the book was too serious for me to read and immediately got suspicious about the word.